Spring camping

Spring in Nevada City…we have daffodils and now they’re talking about more spring showers.   What we love about the spring shoulder season is that campers are starting to surface after a winter of forced hibernation (although many good nights of camping happen in the winter too, check out our Instagram post on our RV Ski Trip or our recent ode to winter activities).  This is the time of the year when we start getting more phone calls and online bookings and people really start to show how eager they are to get outside (often rain or shine) and enjoy our campground.  It’s been great to have some campers this winter, including those who have tried the Yurt for some winter glamping.

If you’re looking for a few spring ideas on things to do:

• Buttermilk Bend wildflower hikes are a great spring activity at Bridgeport along the South Yuba River starting mid March through mid-May.  If you’ve never been down there, spring is the time of the year to go.  Click here for the self guided trees and shrubs brochure or here for a Wildflowers directory.  Point Defiance Loop at South Yuba State Park at Bridgeport, another great spring hike.  The trail had damage over the winter, so beware of closures.
• Go for a hike, we love Deer Creek Tribute Trail in downtown.
• Go rent a bike from the Outpost and explore the Tahoe National Forest, they’ve even got e-bikes if you need a little extra power.
• Book a site and join us for our upcoming Easter Egg Hunt (Saturday, April 19th 3:30 pm).
• Take a self guided tour at the Empire Mine Historic State Park and learn about the rich gold mining history.
• Check out the tulips at Crystal Hermitage Gardens, open April 4th-May 11th
• Join the Foothills Celebration wine tasting event in downtown Grass Valley, March 15th
• Mark your calendars for the KVMR Celtic Festival, May 2-4

We’re re-opening some of the glamping tents for the 2025 season this month.   We are rolling out additional tents as the month continues, so keep an eye on that 5 day forecast and feel free to book a spontaneous glamping getaway.  Our exciting news is that we added a heater to the family glamping tents, so make sure to pick the Yurt, G20, G21 or the Sweetwater tent if you’re looking for a little more warmth.  For those who want a look inside, check out the online galleries for opportunities to look inside.  Summer weekends are definitely filling up, but if you’re interested in a spring getaway, we still have availability.

Early spring camping is a great time to dust off the camping supplies and get comfortable sleeping under the stars again.  And while we’re not on the path of the solar eclipse, maybe it’s still a good opportunity to get outside and go explore?   Here are 5 great things about spring camping at ITC:

1. Instant gratification, we’re all ready for a vacation, why wait?
2. Availability:  Spring often has great weather with warm days, but the crowds aren’t out yet.  We typically have a lot of sites available, including our Glamping tents (they are reopening for the season throughout the month of March) and last-minute trips are easier to come by.
3. Cooler Weather:  Sometimes summer camping is just plain hot.  For those that want to beat the heat, spring is a great time to sleep outside without 90 degree days.  Or maybe you want to bring your Van on a trip and head up to Tahoe and enjoy the many feet of snow!
4. Evening Fires:  The ground is moist and the air is crisp in the spring; all of that makes for a great time sitting by one of our smoke-free gas fire pits.  They put off a lot of heat, without the fire danger and smoke of a regular fire pit and work perfect for that much needed s’mores.
5. Spring Flowers:  Mother nature kicks old man winter to the curb starting in February when the daffodils start to bloom.  Typically the flowers start in March and last well into May / June.  Many of the local hikes have spectacular flower displays in the spring.  I put together a whole blog post on Visit Nevada City on spring blooms, with the rain, they may be a little later than usual this year, so plenty of time to plan a spring trip.

The other thing the beginning of the camping season is great for is the shakedown mission.  For those of you who bought a new trailer or have a new camping gear set up, why not come on a practice run at your local campground?  It’s a great opportunity to test things out and trouble shoot any issues before you’re miles from home.  And, if you’re like, get a list of all the things you either forgot to buy and/or pack in the trailer.  And don’t forget, if you have questions, there’s probably someone at camp that can give you some friendly advice or suggestions.

To keep tabs on the fun at the campground feel free to follow us along either on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Facebook or Pinterest.   We’re excited about the upcoming camping season, spring fever makes us all want to get outside!  And look forward to seeing some of you out at the Nevada City Mardi Gras Parade, 2pm in downtown Nevada City (Saturday, March 1st).